Our July 24 meeting was greatly augmented by our concurrent Summer Blood Drive. Lions SERVE and many members stepped up to donate lifesaving blood supported by the professionals of Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. Lions Christie Sproba and Sharon Carr spearheaded this event and are happy to help future project chairs make their blood drives successful.
Lion Connie Engle reported on the recent vision screening at the Community Assistance Center, and the “Don’t Miss the Bus” Children’s Vision Screening on July 27th at Lone Star Family Health Clinic chaired by Lion Ed Roth. She also encouraged everyone to sign up to help with the preschool Vision Screenings at many Preschool facilities in October.
2nd VP Sharene Carr reported on the tremendous output of our Eyeglass Recycling Center to supply numerous international medical missions with quality refurbished prescription glasses. The center also fabricates glasses for economically challenged children in our community. She encouraged everyone to set a personal “Lion Goal” to participate in the recycling center’s mission.
Lion Andrew Perry reported on a recent service Saturday outing to the memory care unit at Heritage Oaks Assisted living. Pizza, ice cream and fellowship brought many wonderful smiles to these senior residents. He encouraged everyone to come to the August 3rd Service Saturday to help our adopted school, Reaves Elementary teachers set up their classrooms.
1st VP Tracy Irvine announced the next New Member Orientation. It will be on August 1st, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM at the Club Office. All new members are invited to learn more about our committees, service projects, club history, and how they can get involved to serve our community and make great friends in the process. “Seasoned” members of the club will share their experiences and stories.
President Bryan Rennell recognized our ‘Lions of the Month’ for May and June 2024. Lion Ed Roth is the May 2024 awardee for his exceptional work in the eyeglass Recycling Center to gather, sort, prepare and package hundreds of prescription eyeglasses for shipment to medical missions. Our June 2024 Lion of the Month is Michelle Greif for her great work in organizing and producing a wonderful Installation Banquet.
Our featured speaker was Mr. William F. Skeen, the Executive Director of the 100 Club. They serve in 18 Counties of the Greater Houston Area to provide vital financial assistance to fallen Texas State Law Enforcement Officer and Fire Fighter family survivors. Their great organization has provided over $50million since its establishment in 1953. Additionally, they engage with those families to free them of massive financial burden at the time of the unexpected line of duty death of a spouse and parent.
The 100 Club has also provided local law enforcement departments with essential life protecting and mission essential equipment items that have been beyond the financial means of their community but vital to officer safety. In addition to survivor financial support and life protecting equipment, they offer scholarships for officers to attend Sam Houston State University studying criminal justice. Anyone interested in supporting the 100 Club is encouraged to learn more at www.the100club.org.
For more information, please visit our website, www.conroenoonlions.org, or call the local club office at 936-760-1666. You may also call for additional information on any area Lions Club.
Rotarians are leaders in what we do and serve our communities. We are people of principles, values, and beliefs. We look for the best in our daily activities and tend to be optimists. Rotarians have adopted four guiding objectives with summaries re-phrased in my own words:
1. Through service, we make endearing friendships.2. We value high ethical standards in our business and personal lives.3. Providing services to others provides us with the abilities to receive much more than what we receive.4. We look to finding peaceful solutions in our community, business dealing and in the international scope of fellowship with others throughout the world.
Let’s focus on this last objective, being understand, goodwill and peace. Local Rotarian Michael Hayes of the Rotary Club of Conroe chaired Rotary International’s Committee to promote peace this past year and has provided numerous insights on how Rotary International is working globally and locally. Rotarians promote peace on an international basis by:
• Fighting disease• Providing clean water and sanitation• Improving the health of mothers and children• Supporting education• Growing local economies• Carrying out service projects• Supporting peace fellowships and scholarships• Addressing the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, discrimination, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources.
Local Rotary Clubs are involved in drilling water wells in third world countries, fighting polio throughout the world, providing loans to business entrepreneurs in third world countries, supplying Shelter Boxes, assisting women in third world countries, and a simple project started by the Rotary club of Lake Conroe. They collected empty toilet tissue rolls, stuff them with hard candy, and wrap them with gift wrapping paper for distribution to third world kids. These random acts of kindness subtly promote peace since they show kindness to others. We also know that these gifts, albeit it small, can be huge to those youngsters in third world countries who have little to look forward to at Christmas.
One of my favorite peace initiatives is a simple four sided poles have a phrase on the side which says, “May Peace prevail on earth.” Each of the four sides of the Peace Pole have this simple statement in English or one of a myriad different languages. Rotarians can install these poles for about $350 per Peace Pole. My goal is to have the City of Conroe allow these Peace Poles in each of their parks. This could be expanded by The Rotary Club of The Woodlands to all of the parks in The Woodlands Townships with the other three Rotary Clubs in Montgomery County installing these Peace Poles in Montgomery County Parks. Businesses can also sponsors these Peace Poles. This one-time act of installing a Peace Pole can be compounded with Peace Parades on a regular basis to celebrate peace. We can see peace in these actions and much more just be dreaming.
For more information on Rotary, please email Ron Saikowski at rsaikowski@comcast.net.
The Texas Freedom Network was founded about 30 years ago and advocates for legislation that supports public schools.
Hurricane Beryl left millions of Greater Houston-area residents without power after sweeping through the region July 8, but it also affected animals and wildlife, local nonprofit representatives said.
This week it seemed fitting to talk about the passing of Tina Cafeo who was a part of the downtown theaters in Conroe and left her earthly life July 10 in Conroe. She taught voice lessons and drama to youth and adults over the years who not only learned from her but treasured the impact she made in their lives by the memories they left on a website honoring her, TinaTheStarMaker.com.
She was married to her husband, Manny, for 42 years and he too was a director for Conroe’s theaters.
She performed on stage in Nunsense at the Crighton theatre, directed by Manny in the 90s. She then had a role in Annie, Chicago, and many other productions. Most recently she directed Spamalot in December 2022.
The Montie Awards, started after the 2011-2012 season, were the end of season awards like the Academy Awards for the local theatres presented to recognize the theatre volunteers that dedicate themselves to the performing theatre in downtown Conroe. It is a night of glitz and glamour with musical numbers from each show played for the audience throughout the night highlighting both The Players Theatre Company at the Owen Theatre and Stage Right from the Crighton Theatre. The Monties gave out 25 awards from Best Set Design to Best Musical Show of the Year. Each award was $900 each, created by local sculpture, Craig Campobella.
In 2017, Tina Cafeo won the Monte for Best Show of the Year (Mary Poppins), Best Director and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Through the years, Tina worked with theater stars from local to Broadway, opera stars, television stars, writers, screenwriters, theatre owners, pianists, and professional stage managers, but her impact was huge in Conroe.
Thank you for enriching the lives of many and especially those in Conroe, Texas. You made a very evident mark that will be felt for generations to come. A celebration of her life will take place at a later date.
Upcoming events in the Conroe area:
Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat will perform at the Crighton Theatre August 1-4 in various times with the Jim Bingham Youth Summer Camp. The youth have rehearsed all summer to bring this show to the community. Tickets at CrightonTheatre.org.
The Heritage Museum of Montgomery County will have a Saturday Pioneer Adventure on August 3 for kids 5 years of age and older at 1pm. Paint rocks with the Heritage Sewing and Craft Club. Parents encouraged to participate and RSVP (936)539-6873.
Visit our local downtown restaurants for live music performances. There is live music in one or more venues every night of the week and they are walking distances apart. We have new shops open and ready to show you summer bargains and a line of new merchandise to move you from August to November and beyond.
The Back-to-School Tax Free Weekend is Friday, August 9- Sunday, August 11. See the details: https://bit.ly/3SlL0xE.
Be Safe! Shop Local.
Margie Taylor may be reached at margie@taylorizedpr.com.
Hibachi Express officials said the Japanese restaurant is open as of May 15 and is offering a variety of fried rice plates, noodles, hibachi dinners, sushi and special dishes.
Missed any of our articles from this week?
As members of Houston’s CenterPoint executive team appeared in front of the Public Utility Commission of Texas on July 25, details and deadlines for a new resiliency plan were discussed in response to the energy company’s restoration efforts during…
During a Public Utility Commission meeting July 25, CenterPoint Energy CEO Jason Wells promised to improve communication with customers, launch an improved power outage tracker and solve vegetation issues.
Dallas-based Southwest Airlines announced multiple changes coming to the airline including assigned seating and the addition of red-eye flights for select markets.